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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The feudal motte of Panassac, also known as Le Tuco, is a fossil castral motte located in the commune of Panassac in the Gers department. This type of fortified structure, typical of the Middle Ages, generally served as a refuge or surveillance post for local populations. Current remains include ditches and ruins of a building at the top, suggesting an ancient occupation.

Probably abandoned at the end of the 11th century, this motte illustrates the defensive and seigneurial organization of the medieval period in Occitanie. Castral mots were often associated with local lords or peasant communities seeking to protect themselves from frequent conflicts. Their settlement, as here in the north-west of the village, met strategic requirements of territorial control.

The Le Tuco motte was listed as historical monuments by order of 24 July 1979. Owned by the municipality of Panassac, it is close to the departmental road D929. Its current state makes it possible to observe the traces of ditches and structures in elevation, although partially ruined. These remains offer a material testimony of medieval defensive construction and development techniques.

In the regional context of medieval Occitanie, castral mots like Le Tuco played a key role in the feudal hierarchy. They served as support points for local lords, while sometimes sheltering agricultural or craft activities related to fief life. Their gradual abandonment, as suggested for Le Tuco at the end of the 11th century, often coincides with the emergence of larger stone castles, marking an evolution in power and defence strategies.

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